Grapevine named ‘IFG Thirty-one’

ABSTRACT

This invention is a new and distinct grapevine variety denominated ‘IFG Thirty-one’. The new grapevine ‘IFG Thirty-one’ is characterized by producing small seedless, purple-black berries having a narrow ellipsoid shape with a unique strong fruity labrusca flavor reminiscent of artificial grape flavor. Fruits normally ripen early to mid-season about late July to early August near Delano Calif.

Latin name of the genus and species claimed: Vitis interspecific hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘IFG Thirty-one’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new and distinct grapevine described and claimed herein originatedfrom a hand pollinated cross of the IFG 01124-032-156, an unnamedseedling selection from the IFG breeding program, and the interspecificvariety Arkansas 2798 hybridized in May 2006. The abortive seed traceswere subsequently embryo cultured and the resulting population of 5plants was planted in the field in April 2007. The present variety ofgrapevine was selected as a single plant in July 2008 and was firstasexually propagated by hardwood cuttings in December 2008 near Delano,Kern County, Calif. The resulting propagules were planted during April2009 near Delano, Kern County, Calif. and were found to reproducetrue-to-type through at least two generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new grapevine ‘IFG Thirty-one’ is characterized by producing smallpurple-black berries having a narrow ellipsoid shape with a uniquestrong fruity labrusca flavor reminiscent of artificial grape flavor.Fruits normally ripen early to mid-season about late July to earlyAugust near Delano Calif. Fruits have medium firm texture, and berriescan crack at the tip when fully ripe. Attachment of the berry to thepedicel is somewhat weak. Vines are moderately productive and can bepruned to short spurs. The new grapevine differs from its female parentthe IFG 01124-032-156 by having rounder berry shape and by having a verystrong fruity labrusca type flavor as opposed to a neutral flavor. ‘IFGThirty-one’ can be distinguished from its pollen parent, A2798, by itspurple-black color as opposed to black color, by having smaller berryand cluster size.

The interspecific nature of the vine is very evident. Vines are veryvigorous with a more erect-horizontal growth habit and large leaves ascompared to typical seedless grapes of the Vitis vinifera species.

Grape breeders have used several native American grape species toimprove hardiness, disease and insect resistance as well as incorporatearomatic flavors into the vinifera species. Previously introducedinterspecific varieties have had very limited commercial success due tosmall fruit size, large seed traces, slipskin texture or lack offirmness. The new grapevine variety is being introduced because of itsunique labrusca flavor combined with seedlessness, and good adhesion ofskin.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing in FIG. 1 illustrates in fullcolor ‘IFG Thirty-one’. The photograph was taken outdoors with indirectlighting. The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in acolor representation of this type. The left side of the drawing has amature leaf. A mature fruit cluster is represented in the center of thedrawing along with a typical berry in cross section. A young shoot tipwith tendrils and young leaves can be seen on th right side of thedrawing.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of that color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based upon R.H.S. Colour Chart, published in 2001 by The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, England.

Throughout this specification subjective description values conform tothose set forth by the UPOV International Union for the Protection ofNew Varieties of Plants publication ‘Grapevine Vitis L. Guidelines’(TG/50/9) (Apr. 9, 2008), (www.upov.int/edocs/tgdocs/en/tg050.pdf).

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to ‘IFG Thirty-one’ plantsgrown in the vicinity of Delano, Kern County, Calif. during 2012, and isbelieved to apply to plants of the variety grown under similarconditions of soil and climate elsewhere:

VINE

-   General:    -   -   Vigor.—Vigorous.        -   Density of foliage.—Dense.        -   Productivity.—Moderately productive, producing about 17.5 to            26.2 kg of fruit per vine.        -   Root stock.—Own root.        -   Training method.—Typically spur pruned leaving 2 bud spurs.-   Trunk:    -   -   Trunk diameter of 4-year-old vines at 30 cm above the soil            line.—About 4.9 cm.        -   Shape.—Stocky to medium.        -   Straps.—Short — split.        -   Surface texture.—Shaggy.        -   Inner bark color.—Greyed-orange: 165A.

SHOOTS

-   Young shoot:    -   -   Form of tip.—Wide opened.        -   Distribution of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Absent.        -   Intensity of anthocyanin coloration of tip.—Very weak.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on tip.—Sparse to medium.        -   Density of erect hairs on tip.—Absent.        -   Color.—The following colors were observed: Yellow-green:            144A and 144B, and 146A.-   Woody shoot (mature canes):    -   -   Internode length.—Medium: About 7.1 cm.        -   Width at node.—About 0.7 cm.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Surface.—Striate.        -   Main color.—The following colors were observed:            Greyed-orange: 164A and 164B and 164C and 164D.        -   Density of erect hairs on nodes.—Sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on internodes.—None.        -   Axillary shoot length at full bloom.—Medium: Approximately            14.0 cm.-   Flowering shoot:    -   -   Vigor during flowering.—Very strong.        -   Attitude during flowering on shoots not tied.—Semi-erect.        -   Color.—Dorsal side of internodes — Yellow-green: 146C, with            Red-purple stripes: 59B.        -   Color.—Ventral side of internodes — Yellow-green: 146C.        -   Color.—Dorsal side of nodes — Yellow-green: 146C, and            Yellow-green: 146C with Red-purple stripes: 59B.        -   Color.—Ventral side of nodes — Yellow-green: 146C.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on nodes.—Very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on nodes.—Very sparse.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on internode.—Very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on internode.—None.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of buds.—Absent.-   Tendrils:    -   -   Distribution on the shoot (at full            flowering).—Discontinuous.        -   Length of tendril.—Medium: About 17.7 cm.        -   Thickness of tendril 2 cm from base.—About 1.5 mm.        -   Color.—The following colors were observed: Yellow-green:            N144A and 144A.        -   Form.—Bifurcated and trifurcated.        -   Number of consecutive tendrils.—2.

LEAVES

-   Young leaves:    -   -   Color of upper surface of first four distal unfolded            leaves.—Yellow-green: 146C.        -   Average intensity of anthocyanin coloration of six distal            leaves prior to flowering.—Weak.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins (lower            surface).—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on veins (lower surface).—Sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs between veins (lower            surface).—Absent.        -   Density of erect hairs on veins (lower surface).—Medium to            dense.-   Mature leaves (opposite first cluster):    -   -   Average length.—About 16.7 cm.        -   Average width.—About 17.9 cm.        -   Mature leaf size.—Medium.        -   Shape of blade.—Wedge-shaped.        -   Number of lobes.—5.        -   Blade venation.—Palmate.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins on upper side of            blade.—Medium.        -   Mature leaf profile.—Flat.        -   Blistering surface of blade upper surface.—Very weak.        -   Leaf blade tip.—In the plane of the leaf.        -   Undulation of margin.—Slight.        -   Undulation of blade between main and lateral veins.—Only            near petiole.        -   Shape of teeth.—Mixture of both sides straight and both            sides convex.        -   Length of teeth.—Short.        -   Ratio length/width of teeth.—Small.        -   Shape of upper lateral sinuses.—Lobes slightly overlapping.        -   Depth of upper lateral sinuses.—Shallow to medium.        -   General shape petiole sinus.—Half open.        -   Shape of base of upper leaf sinuses.—U-shaped.        -   Tooth at petiole sinus.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent.        -   Density of erect hairs between veins on lower surface of            blade.—Absent.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—None.        -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on lower surface of            blade.—Medium.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on main veins on upper surface of            blade.—Very sparse.        -   Density of erect hairs on main veins on upper surface of            blade.—Sparse to medium.        -   Autumn coloration of leaves.—Leaves can be a single color or            a combination of colors, in a mottled pattern or on the            edges of the leaves. The following colors were observed:            Yellow-orange: 14C and 14D, and Orange-red: N34A and N34B            and N34C, and Greyed-purple: 187A and 187B.-   Upper surface:    -   -   Color.—The following colors were observed: Green: 137A and            137B, and Yellow-green: 147A.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins.—Weak to medium.        -   Surface appearance.—Dull.        -   Blistering surface of blade.—Very weak.-   Lower surface:    -   -   Color.—The following colors were observed: Green: 138A and            137C.        -   Anthocyanin coloration of main veins (lower            surface).—Medium.        -   Glossiness.—Weak.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth.        -   Surface appearance.—Semi-glossy to dull.-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—About 16.2 cm.        -   Diameter of petiole 2 cm from blade.—About 2.7 mm.        -   Petiole color.—The following colors were observed:            Yellow-green: 145C and Greyed-red: 182C.        -   Length of petiole compared to middle vein.—Equal.        -   Density of prostrate hairs on petiole.—None.        -   Density of erect hairs on petiole.—Sparse.-   Buds:    -   -   Bud fruitfulness.—Basal: Mostly fruitful.        -   Position of first fruitful shoot on previous season            cane.—1^(st) to 2^(nd) node.        -   Dormant bud length.—About 6.0 mm.        -   Dormant bud width in the proximal/distal plane.—About 6.3            mm.        -   Dormant bud color.—Greyed-orange: 165B.        -   Time of bud burst.—Midseason: about May 17, 2012.

FLOWERS

-   General:    -   -   Flower sex.—Hermaphrodite.        -   Length of first inflorescence.—Short to medium: About 14.9            cm long by 5.3 cm wide.        -   Position of first flowering and fruiting node.—3^(rd) node            (current season growth).        -   Number of inflorescence per flowering shoot.—2.1 to 3.        -   Time of bloom.—Midseason as compared with similar varieties            in the growing area of Delano, Calif.        -   Date of full bloom.—About May 15, 2012.

FRUIT

-   General:    -   -   Ripening period.—Early to mid season: Approximately Aug. 9,            2012.        -   Use.—Fresh market.        -   Keeping quality.—Moderate, can be prone to shatter during            handling and storage at 0° C. and high RH.        -   Resistance to.—Insects: Average typical of Vitis vinifera            species. Diseases: Average typical of Vitis vinifera            species.        -   Refractometer test.—Soluble solids: about 19.0 Brix.        -   Brix/acid.—About 30.6.        -   Titratable acidity.—About 0.62.        -   Juice ph.—About 3.3.        -   Juice color.—Greyed-brown: 199D.-   Cluster:    -   -   Mature cluster length (peduncle excluded).—About 24.2 cm.        -   Mature cluster width.—About 13.7 cm.        -   Mature cluster weight.—About 582 g.        -   Bunch density.—Medium.        -   Number of berries.—About 130.        -   Form.—Conical.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Lignification of peduncle.—Weak.        -   Length of peduncle.—Short: Approximately 2.3 cm.-   Berry:    -   -   Uniformity of size.—Uniform.        -   Single berry weight.—About 4.9 g natural: to about 7.1 g            when treated with gibberellic acid.        -   Shape.—Narrow ellipsoid.        -   Seeds.—Absent.        -   Cross section.—Circular.        -   Berry dimensions.—Longitudinal axis: about 2.3 cm horizontal            axis: about 1.8 cm.        -   Berry firmness.—Medium.        -   Particular flavor.—Labrusca.        -   Bloom (cuticular wax).—Medium.        -   Berry separation from pedicel.—Easy.        -   Skin color (without bloom).—Greyed-purple: 187A and 187B.-   Skin:    -   -   Thickness.—Medium.        -   Skin toughness.—Not notable when chewing.        -   Reticulation.—Absent.        -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.

What is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of grapevine as hereinillustrated and described.